Defensive Failures and Missed Opportunities Mar Cowboys' Home Opener
ARLINGTON, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys' disappointing start to their home opener culminated in a 44-19 thrashing at the hands of the New Orleans Saints. The Cowboys' defense was porous, allowing the Saints to score on their first six drives, leaving the team playing catch-up for the entire game.
The flash of brilliance came from CeeDee Lamb, who managed to narrow the deficit to 21-13 with a spectacular 65-yard touchdown reception. Despite this effort, multiple errors and missteps thwarted the Cowboys’ attempts to close the gap further. Jalen Brooks's slip during a crucial slant route led to Dak Prescott's first of two interceptions, a momentum-killer that stifled any potential comeback.
The Saints, seizing every opportunity, piled on two additional touchdowns before halftime, entering the break with a commanding 35-16 lead. While the Cowboys managed to convert six of their 13 third-down attempts, their failures in the red zone were glaring, leaving crucial points off the board.
Through two weeks, the Cowboys have averaged a meager 85 rushing yards per game, a worrying decline from their usual standards. With Tony Pollard sidelined, Ezekiel Elliott, Rico Dowdle, and Deuce Vaughn struggled to compensate for his absence. The ground game’s inefficiency only magnified the existing offensive challenges.
The chemistry between Prescott and Lamb is still maturing, but the duo showed signs of promise. Prescott connected on nine of Lamb's 17 targets for 151 yards and a touchdown, a bright spot in an otherwise bleak outing. Yet, Prescott's performance through two games has yielded an underwhelming passer rating of 81.4, a statistic that reflects the broader offensive struggles.
Comparing this to last season, the Cowboys had 76 plays of 20 or more yards but have only managed four such plays so far this year, highlighting the lack of explosive offensive drives.
Prescott acknowledged the struggles candidly: "It was hard to say that we were pressing. You're trying to play complementary football, and if your defense is struggling to stop a group, you want to do your part and score. We weren't able to score touchdowns, but were able to move the ball. I can't say that we were pressing necessarily," he said.
The quarterback also took responsibility for the inefficacies in the red zone. "I just didn't convert in the red zone. They didn't throw anything we weren't ready for. It’s on me," Prescott admitted.
Prescott further emphasized the importance of communication with Lamb: "Simply just trying to communicate. Maybe those misses, maybe what he saw, what he thought versus what I did and then, honestly, just finding a solution. We have to have those communications to substitute for the time missed." His commitment to improving these dynamics is clear.
Reflecting on the game, Prescott remarked, "My expectations are crazy high. I’m seeing it well, putting the ball where I want to. That one interception is going to get at me. Outside of that, there may be a few throws that I want to get back." He added, "I don't want to say you have to be perfect, but everybody's got to do their job and trust their job. Part of it for me is going back to using my feet more, whether it's scrambling, extending the plays to look to throw the ball down the field or maybe just going and getting a couple yards and getting down."
The Cowboys will need to regroup quickly as they prepare to face the Baltimore Ravens in their next game. With key areas to address in both offense and defense, the team’s true test will be how they can adapt and respond to this early setback in their season.